The 2002–03 National Division Three South was the third season (sixteenth overall) of the
fourth division (south) of the
English domestic
rugby union
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
competition using the name National Division Three South. New teams to the division included
Rosslyn Park who were relegated from the
2001–02 National Division Two while
Havant
Havant ( ) is a town in the south-east corner of Hampshire, England. Nearby places include Portsmouth to the south-west, Southampton to the west, Waterlooville to north, Chichester to the east and Hayling Island to the south. The wider borough ...
(champions) and
Basingstoke
Basingstoke ( ) is a town in Hampshire, situated in south-central England across a valley at the source of the River Loddon on the western edge of the North Downs. It is the largest settlement in Hampshire without city status in the United King ...
(playoffs) were promoted from
London Division 1 along with champions of
South West Division 1 –
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare ( ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the North Somerset unitary district, in the county of Somerset, England. It lies by the Bristol Channel south-west of Bristol between Worlebury Hill and Bleadon Hill. Its population ...
. The league system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. The league system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw with the league champions going straight up into
National Division Two and the runners up playing a playoff against the runners up from
National Division Three North for the final promotion place.
By the end of the season, Rosslyn Park made an instant return to National Division Two by winning the league championship, beating runners up
Lydney
Lydney is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is on the west bank of the River Severn in the Forest of Dean District, and is 16 miles (25 km) southwest of Gloucester. The town has been Bypass ( ...
to the title by virtue of just two points. Lydney would join Rosslyn Park in the
2003–04 National Division Two by winning their playoff game against the
2002–03 National Division Three North runners up
New Brighton.
At the other end of the table,
Camberley
Camberley is a town in north-west Surrey, England, around south-west of central London. It is in the Surrey Heath, Borough of Surrey Heath and is close to the county boundaries with Hampshire and Berkshire. Known originally as "Cambridge Tow ...
were comfortable the worst team in the division with 26 defeats out of the 26 games played and over 1,000 points conceded. Newly promoted Havant made a much better fight out of it in what was a very close relegation scrap, winning their last 3 games but eventually going down with only 2 points separating them from 9th placed
Tabard
A tabard is a type of short coat that was commonly worn by men during the late Middle Ages and early modern period in Europe. Generally worn outdoors, the coat was either sleeveless or had short sleeves or shoulder pieces. In its more developed ...
. Camberley would drop down to London Division 1 while Havant went back into South West Division 1.
Participating teams and locations
Final league table
Results
Round 1
----
Round 2
----
Round 3
----
Round 4
----
Round 5
----
Round 6
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 December 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 December 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 December 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 December 2002.
----
Round 7
----
Round 8
----
Round 9
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2003.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2003.
----
Round 10
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 March 2003.
----
Round 11
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
----
Round 12
----
Round 13
----
Round 14
----
Round 15
----
Round 6 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 19 October 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 19 October 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 19 October 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 19 October 2002.
----
Round 16
*Postponed. Game rescheduled for 8 March 2003.
----
Round 17
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2003.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 March 2003.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2003.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 March 2003.
----
Round 18
----
Round 19
----
Round 20
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 April 2003.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 March 2003.
----
Round 21
----
Rounds 9 & 17 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
*Game rescheduled from 9 November 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 9 November 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
----
Round 22
----
Round 23
----
Rounds 11, 16, 17 & 20 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 1 February 2003.
*Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
*Game rescheduled from 4 January 2003.
*Game rescheduled from 23 November 2002.
----
Round 24
----
Rounds 10, 17 & 20 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 16 November 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
*Game rescheduled from 1 February 2003.
*Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
----
Round 25
----
Round 20 (rescheduled game)
*Game rescheduled from 1 February 2003.
----
Round 26
----
Promotion play-off
The league runners up of National Division Three South and North would meet in a playoff game for promotion to National Division Two.
Lydney
Lydney is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is on the west bank of the River Severn in the Forest of Dean District, and is 16 miles (25 km) southwest of Gloucester. The town has been Bypass ( ...
were runners-up in the south and because they had a better league record than north runners-up,
New Brighton, they hosted the play-off match.
[
]
Total season attendances
Individual statistics
* Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers
Top try scorers
Season records
Team
;Largest home win — 72 pts
77 - 5 Rosslyn Park at home to Basingstoke on 11 January 2003
;Largest away win — 57 pts
67 - 10 Rosslyn Park away to Old Colfeians on 14 December 2002
;Most points scored — 82 pts
82 - 17 Rosslyn Park at home to Westcombe Park on 21 December 2002
;Most tries in a match — 14
Rosslyn Park at home to Basingstoke on 11 January 2003
;Most conversions in a match — 8 (x3)
Rosslyn Park away to Old Colfeians on 14 December 2002
Rosslyn Park at home to Westcombe Park on 21 December 2002
Havant v Weston-super-Mare on 5 April 2003
;Most penalties in a match — 7
Blackheath at home to Redruth on 14 December 2002
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Lydney away to North Walsham on 28 December 2012
Player
;Most points in a match — 32
Sam Howard
Sam James Howard (born March 5, 1993) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Amateur career
Howard attended Cartersville High ...
for Rosslyn Park away to Old Colfeians on 14 December 2002
;Most tries in a match — 4 (x3)
Scott Pollock for Old Patesians at home to Camberley on 1 February 2003
Christopher
Christopher is the English language, English version of a Europe-wide name derived from the Greek language, Greek name Χριστόφορος (''Christophoros'' or ''Christoforos''). The constituent parts are Χριστός (''Christós''), "Jesus ...
for Basingstoke at home to North Walsham on 8 March 2003
Nick Marval for Rosslyn Park at home to Tabard on 22 March 2003
;Most conversions in a match — 8 (x3)
Sam Howard
Sam James Howard (born March 5, 1993) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Amateur career
Howard attended Cartersville High ...
for Rosslyn Park away to Old Colfeians on 14 December 2002
Sam Howard
Sam James Howard (born March 5, 1993) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Amateur career
Howard attended Cartersville High ...
for Rosslyn Park at home to Westcombe Park on 21 December 2002
Owen Cobbe for Havant v Weston-super-Mare on 5 April 2003
;Most penalties in a match — 7
Jonathan Griffin for Blackheath at home to Redruth on 14 December 2002
;Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple players
Attendances
;Highest — 650
Redruth at home to Rosslyn Park on 7 September 2002
;Lowest — 180
Tabard at home to Blackheath on 9 November 2002
;Highest Average Attendance — 570
Redruth
;Lowest Average Attendance — 180
Tabard
''Extremely poor attendance tracking meant it was impossible to get an accurate figure for attendances during this season. The figures above are simply the ones documented and larger/smaller attendances than those mentioned are very likely.''
See also
* English rugby union system
Men's Rugby union in England consists of 106 leagues, which includes professional leagues at the highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout the system.
Women's Rugby union in England consi ...
* Rugby union in England
Rugby union in England is one of the leading professional and recreational team sports. In 1871 the Rugby Football Union, the governing body for rugby union in England, was formed by 21 rugby clubs, and the first international match, which invol ...
References
External links
NCA Rugby
{{DEFAULTSORT:National3
2002–03
2002–03 in English rugby union leagues